This weekend was so much better then the last. The weather was beautiful, the track was looking great, and I was ready to go out and win. Well, long story short, I ended up winning a 3rd place trophy! Read on and find out how I did it.

Basic tune:

Timing set at 14 degrees

Shift points at 5000 rpms

Water temperature approximately 180 degrees

17 psi Air pressure in rear tires

10 psi in air bag

Time Trial Number 1

Lane:

right

Reaction time:

.559

60 ft:

1.984

330 ft:

5.773

660 ft:

8.933

660 ft mph:

77.40 mph

1000 ft:

11.689

1/4 mile:

14.02

1/4 mile mph:

96.27 mph

Time Trial Number 2

Lane:

left

Reaction time:

.564

60 ft:

2.007

330 ft:

5.811

660 ft:

8.976

660 ft mph:

77.39 mph

1000 ft:

11.737

1/4 mile:

14.082

1/4 mile mph:

95.97

Well you should notice that my reaction times are much better then they were at the last race. The hesitation that was plaguing me then has disappeared. I'm still not toatally for sure what exactly was causing it but im glad its gone.

On the first round of eliminations I was lined up againt a little 1980 4 cylinder Mustang that was dialed in at a 18.71. I knew I would have almost a 5 second wait before I could launch so I didn't want to take any chances at red lighting. It seems that if I can get past the first round without red lighting I usually don't do to bad. I intentionally waited on the tree to make sure the light would be green, then all I would have to do is hope the other guy was way off his dial. Check it out:

1st Round

Dial in:

14.03

Lane:

left

Reaction time:

.699

60 ft:

2.016

330 ft:

5.840

660 ft:

9.015

660 ft mph:

77.28 mph

1000 ft:

11.772

1/4 mile:

14.114

1/4 mile mph:

95.93

My Opponent

opponents dial in:

18.71

opponents lane:

right obviously

opponents RT:

.539

opponents 60 ft:

2.898

opponents 330 ft:

8.102

opponents 1/8 mile ET:

12.282

opponents 1/8 mile mph:

59.16 mph

opponents 1000 ft:

15.858

opponents 1/4 ET:

19.001

opponents 1/4 mph:

65.93 mph

This run is pretty self explanitory. I won because I was closer to my dial then he was. He had a very good reaction time, but since I waited on the tree I didn't catch up to him as quick as he thought I would, it looks like he freaked thinking he was going to break out, and hit his brakes at the very end. The margin of victory was 0.047, what this means is that if he would have ran a 18.954 or faster, he would have won. Pretty close huh?

Second round was a lot more relaxed, I wasn't as nervous. I had already gotten past the hardest part so I knew the rest would be fun. The guy I had to race is one of the better drivers in the class, but I didn't let that bother me.

2nd Round

Dial in:

14.08

Lane:

left

Reaction time:

.520

60 ft:

1.988

330 ft:

5.797

660 ft:

8.963

660 ft mph:

77.46 mph

1000 ft:

11.716

1/4 mile:

14.052

1/4 mile mph:

96.34

My Opponent

opponents dial in:

13.69

opponents lane:

right obviously

opponents RT:

.585

opponents 60 ft:

2.175

opponents 330 ft:

6.018

opponents 1/8 mile ET:

8.970

opponents 1/8 mile mph:

83.59 mph

opponents 1000 ft:

11.509

opponents 1/4 ET:

13.656

opponents 1/4 mph:

104.98 mph

You want to talk about a close race!! 0.006 of a second!! WOW! I won because I broke out less. What this means is both cars went faster then their dial-in but I won because I was closer to my dial.

Round 3 was the semi-final round. 4 cars left in competition. I got paired up against the number one points leader. I wasnt worried about this at all. I knew that he waits until his opponet writes their dial on the window before he puts his up, so I waited until the very last second. I could see he was getting a little nervous about it. Finally he just wrote his dial and then I got out and wrote mine. Heres what happened after that:

3rd Round

Dial in:

14.05

Lane:

left

Reaction time:

.442

60 ft:

1.987

330 ft:

5.783

660 ft:

8.945

660 ft mph:

77.43 mph

1000 ft:

11.702

1/4 mile:

14.044

1/4 mile mph:

96.10

My Opponent

opponents dial in:

13.13

opponents lane:

right obviously

opponents RT:

.525

opponents 60 ft:

1.880

opponents 330 ft:

5.420

opponents 1/8 mile ET:

8.424

opponents 1/8 mile mph:

81.81 mph

opponents 1000 ft:

11.006

opponents 1/4 ET:

13.289

opponents 1/4 mph:

94.72 mph

Well I blew this round before it even started. When I pulled up and lit the staged bulb I stalled the motor up to 1200 rpm as I usually do, but the brakes didn't hold the car and it rolled a little in the beams. I felt it roll and I knew that it was possible that it might cause a problem. But I didn't want to take a chance by changing my launch so I just left as I aleays do when the 3rd bulb first flashes on. Well the car must have rolled more then I thought because I red lighted. Big time also- 0.442! Oh well, can't win them all I guess.

Well I went back to the pits to get all my stuff and get loaded up to go home. One of my friends was still racing so I figured that I'd stay awhile and see how he did. Well about 15 minutes later they announced that they needed both cars that had lost in the semi-finals to return for a run off for third and fourth place. Well lets just say I was very happy to get another run in. Check it out:

Run Off Round

Dial in:

14.02

Lane:

right

Reaction time:

.607

60 ft:

2.033

330 ft:

5.865

660 ft:

9.039

660 ft mph:

77.30 mph

1000 ft:

11.809

1/4 mile:

14.530

1/4 mile mph:

76.32

My Opponent

opponents dial in:

13.48

opponents lane:

left obviously

opponents RT:

.602

opponents 60 ft:

1.873

opponents 330 ft:

5.651

opponents 1/8 mile ET:

9.041

opponents 1/8 mile mph:

64.72 mph

opponents 1000 ft:

12.826

opponents 1/4 ET:

16.685

opponents 1/4 mph:

54.77 mph

It was getting dark when they finally let us race. And if you didn't know, when it gets dark your eyes react faster to light. Knowing this I did't want to take any chances with red lighting. Well after the launch I was a ways out on him and I kept looking back to see if he was coming up, and it didn't look like he was moving very fast, so I let off and coasted to the win! Check out the picture to see what I got for my trouble: